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[Classroom Funding] 19 Grants for Tennessee Educators

[Classroom Funding] 19 Grants for Tennessee Educators

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Tennessee educators and administrators are no stranger to cracking into their own piggy banks when it comes to buying school supplies. A recent U.S. Department of Education survey found that 94% of teachers spend their own money—without reimbursement—on day-to-day classroom supplies. According to the survey, teachers were spending around $479 on average for their classrooms, but some teachers reported spending upward of $1,000.

So, what’s the best solution when district and school budgets are tight? Try applying for a grant! We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of grant programs that all Tennessee educators should be aware of, including state-specific programs and national awards offered by corporations, professional societies, and nonprofit organizations—all organized by category and application due date.*

Funds support projects that demonstrate creative and innovative arts education programming in community settings or nontraditional school environments for populations of all ages that directly involve participants in hands-on learning experiences focused on performing, visual, traditional folk, and/or literary arts.

Tennessee Arts Commission Funds for At-Risk Youth grants support arts-based after-school or summer camp programs geared toward children in grades pre-K–12 who are considered at-risk. Projects should include hands-on learning experiences focused on performing, visual, traditional folk, and/or literary art for the participants. Verification that 51% or more of students participating are at-risk youth must be provided.

These grants provide funds for arts projects in urban (APS) and rural (RAPS) counties. Funding ranges from $500 to $10,000 and depends upon an organization’s rating in the review process and upon the total amount of funds available to the Tennessee Arts Commission for grant allocation.

The program provides funds for artist fees, ticket costs, and transportation fees in order for students from Tennessee public schools to experience a broad variety of cultural opportunities, arts disciplines, and artists during the school day. A school may apply for a maximum of $300 in funding per school year. Applications must be received a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of the project. For fiscal year 2019, projects must occur by May 24, 2019.

Knowles Science Teaching Foundation teaching fellowships are available in the areas of biology, mathematics, and physical sciences to individuals who demonstrate exceptional content knowledge in the area they intend to teach, a commitment to teaching high school in U.S. schools, professional ability, and the potential for leadership.

The Dan and Margaret Maddox Charitable Fund provides grants to programs in the 41 counties of Middle Tennessee that focus on education, low-income youth, and protecting wildlife habitats. The Maddox Charitable Fund requires all grantees to have an up-to-date GivingMatters.com profile.

Walmart awards annual grants ranging from $250 to $5,000 to a wide variety of community-focused organizations, including K–12 schools. Grants for education are intended to fund after-school enrichment programs, as well as tutoring for low-income students.

Applications Due: February 1, 2019; June 1, 2019; and October 15, 2019

This grant is available to current members of the National Education Association (NEA), and it supports in-classroom initiatives with the aim of improving student outcomes. The award can fund resources, technology, experiences, and other materials specifically for students. This grant is offered at two levels of funding—either $2,000 or $5,000.

This grant from the International Literacy Association (ILA) is intended to recognize outstanding teaching at the K–8 level for economically disadvantaged students. The grant is awarded in the amount of $2,500 to a classroom teacher to improve and enrich reading and writing across the curriculum.

This foundation was established in 1958 to improve life in communities, including funding grants. The foundation supports a variety of results-driven educational programs, including ones that boost literacy, get public school students interested in STEM, and train teachers so that they can take their skills to the next level. The foundation also provides funds for basics like books and grants college scholarships to students who are ready to move on to higher education.

The ACS-Hach Professional Development Grant is administered by the American Chemical Society and intended specifically to support high school chemistry teachers in accessing opportunities to further their training, such as conferences or professional courses. Applicants can request as much as $1,500 in grant funding.

Applications Due: February 1, 2019; June 1, 2019; and October 15, 2019

This grant is available to current members of the NEA and is intended to help fund learning experiences for educators to develop and improve their professional practice with participation in conferences, summer institutes, research, mentoring experiences, and more, with preference being given to proposals that incorporate STEM or global competence. Like NEA’s Student Achievement Grants, this award is also offered at two levels of funding—either $2,000 or $5,000.

Applications Due: April 15, 2019 (or when 350 applications have been received)

These grants support the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation’s belief in the value of continuous learning, training, and growth for educators. Awards fund small groups of teachers in the development and implementation of forward-thinking instructional approaches in K–12 instruction and offer as much as $10,000 per year for up to three years.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) offers grants exclusively for training related to mathematics instruction, which can involve consultant fees, conferences, training materials, and more. The NCTM offers separate grants for grades pre-K–5, 6–8, and 9–12, each with a maximum award of $4,000 per school.

Two Application Deadlines for Grants Greater than $5,000: May 1, 2019; and November 1, 2019

Four Application Deadlines for Grants Less than $5,000: December 1, 2018; March 1, 2019; June 1, 2019; and September 1, 2019

This grant from the Toshiba America Foundation supports a broad range of projects with the aim of making science and mathematics learning more engaging for students. At the grade 6–12 level, grant proposals are placed in to two different funding level categories—requests under $5,000 and requests greater than $5,000.

This grant from ACS is intended to fund ideas and instructional approaches to support chemistry learning in the high school classroom. Teachers can request up to $1,500 for their ideas to engage students in learning and help them develop a love of chemistry.

The NCTM offers this grant to promote innovative uses of technology to enhance math instruction in the classroom. Funding can cover costs of devices, as well as professional development related to their use, and awards may be as much as $3,000.

This grant from Lowe’s is intended to support communities by funding STEM and technology initiatives for schools and districts, including technology upgrades like new devices, as well as facility renovations and safety improvements. The grant awards $2,000 to $5,000 in funding per school.

*Many of these grants are awarded annually. Due dates are as accurate as possible as of October 2018 but are subject to change. Always check specific grant websites for the most up-to-date and accurate application information.